Dunham Academy D&D

After suffering a horrendous defeat at the hands of a bridge and an axe trap the players retreated for a week to draw up new characters. Welcome all! Joined this time by a handy half-elf guide Arasmor d’Lyrander, they once more set out for the now slightly less populated orc lair. They encountered no resistance going in, and easily arrived at the door it had taken the old party months to reach. Going beyond they had the sense to check for traps and found a secret passage safely leading on. After taking special care to avoid the thirteenth step (and accompanying magic trap) they have come close to the end of their journey. Perhaps they will prove far the superiors of their predecessors and win their way to and past the black dragon Nightscale, ruler supreme of the caverns below.

With Belak dead and their first adventure completed, the party headed back to town to rest and find their next task. With the help of a merchant friend they were able to decode an ancient dwarven map found in the sunless citadel which led them to the town of Blasingdell at the foot of an orc infested mountain. Apparently the ancient stronghold of Durgeddin the Black, a dwarf weaponsmith of legend, lay within. After recovering from a savage tiefling ambush on their caravan and the antics of a dwarf named Cancel they set off to find the famed treasure of Khundrakar. On their way they were joined by an annoying (and metagaming) half orc called Chaincrush of the North and a not-so-friendly drow rouge named Alendas. Then into the mountain to face the dangers withing.

Unfortunately these dangers proved too great, as half of the party was killed falling off a bridge while being shot with arrows. Nevertheless they persevered, finding new allies to replace the ones they lost. Through traps and battles, failed balance checks and more, they made their way deep into the bowels of the earth. Sped along a little by a helpful DM, they made their way to an iron door leading further into uncharted territory. Alas, for the last PC met his death in the chamber beyond, opening a trapped door only to be cut in two by the ready axe.

The party appeared in the grove of Belak the Outcast after being teleported away from the disintegrating fire node. Moving forward, they were pushed back by constant twig blight assaults and rested in a sheltered corridor. After they were fully refreshed they charged into Belak’s grove, confronting the foul druid under the massive Gulthias tree. He explained some of his plan to take over the world using the twig blights, grown from the tree’s seeds. Having heard this the party promptly decided to kill him. A wise decision, given that they’re alternative was being turned into vegetables. But they failed. A few resisted the change and began to fight for their lives and the world as they know it.

Having mercilessly murdered all goblins in their path the party proceeded into a frosty room, led by Meepo. Inside they found a wyrmling white dragon who, tempted with the promise of cake, happily returned to the kobolds. Yusdrayl pointed them off towards the next room and they rushed off to certain XP. They soon found that the room was occupied, and they fought a close battle with the goblin leader and his underlings while kobold mages scried upon them and threw popcorn. They then proceeded to have a disturbing vision as they slept. A slender elven man walked through the woods, and then the seen vanished in a burst of fire. A female dwarf dressed with the trappings of royalty counted gold until it melted in her hands, destroyed by encroaching flame. A fiendish red dragon roared in exultation as fire rained down and the earth screamed in torment. The characters woke to the roar, and fire shot out of the shaft in the center of the room. With an explosion they were hurled down it and out into a side passage and it collapsed behind them. Upon exploring they saw luminescent fungi which half of them avoided and the other half tried to eat. Once their stomachs had settled they moved on, encountering more twig blights and a bugbear. This proved to much and before they could count to 734 backwards in Greek they were dead. (probably a lot before that.) They then found themselves in a strange place that seemed to be made of fire itself. A few people nearly killed themselves by blowing up pieces of the floor and walls. They went forward to meet a kobold wyrmpriest, and managed to place four orbs in their sockets while dodging his deadly attacks.

In the first few games the party acquired their quest and set off for the entrance to the sunless citadel. They were going to find the mystery of the magical fruit sold by the goblins twice a year and to discover the fate of a party of missing adventurers. After stopping briefly in the market they proceeded on to climb down into a chasm which fortunately had a rope left by the former party. Lidda died when she fell into the depths, but her twin sister was able to carry on without her while the party fought hordes of ravenous cave rats. Going down a set of winding stairs they navigated a treacherous field of crumbled buildings and entered the forgotten fortress. Inside they found a group of dead goblins and the word Ashardalon, which they recognized as the name of a powerful demonic red dragon vestige. Proceeding onwards they found a magically locked door with a rearing dragon carved on it. When they were forced to turn back they found a keg of water down the next hall, along with a room where they rested. In the water they fought and defeated a water mephit. Next they found a crying kobold named Meepo, who told them that his clan’s dragon had been stolen by goblins. Happy to help, the party followed him to Yusdrayl, the kobold leader, where they where told more of the fruit and of the druid who grew it. They also happened to see a magic key among the treasures. Perhaps they could obtain it as a reward? They followed Meepo to a hidden passageway, and he led them deep into the goblin territory. They found a set blocking their way though, and engaged in a bloody battle.